Stealing Pretty

by R. Cayden

  “That was amazing,” Jameson said, his voice barely as loud as a breath. He looked to the overturned chair and saw his underwear, tossed aside and hanging off the corner of the coffee table.

  “Hell yeah it was,” Gray agreed. He pulled himself out of Jameson slowly, then kissed him on the cheek.

  Jameson wiggled his arms, which looked loose and wobbly. Gray grabbed a few tissues, then went to cleaning them both off. “You want to jump in the shower?” he asked as he gently wiped the napkin across the hard nubs of Jameson’s nipples.

  “Yeah, a shower sounds nice.”

  Gray helped him to his feet, then gave him another quick kiss. Before they could move, though, a chiming sound rang out, then rang out again.

  “What’s that?” Jameson asked, his voice weak.

  Gray smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m expecting something. Just give me one second, okay?”

  He squeezed Jameson’s butt, then buttoned up his suit pants and headed toward the front of the massive hotel room. It felt like his nerves were raw and exposed without Jameson’s touch, but when he opened the door and accepted the delivery, satisfaction washed over him.

  A second later, he unfastened the leash, and Pickles rounded the corner into the hotel. Jameson yelped as she jumped over an ottoman, her fur flying as she rushed toward him, and then pounced at his feet.

  “Pickles!” he laughed gleefully. He grabbed a throw from the back of a couch, then wrapped it loosely around his waist while Pickles rolled at his feet.

  “What are you doing?” Gray laughed.

  “I’m indecent!” Jameson squealed. “She hasn’t seen me with a man before!” Once he finally got the blanket sorted, he dropped to his knees. Pickles licked at his chest excitedly while he rubbed the back of her head, and the familiarity felt soothing and satisfying to Gray, like putting the last piece in a puzzle. “I’m so glad to see you! And I’m sorry I was gone so long. Did you bark at those mean reporters for me? Did you keep the photographers away?”

  Once he and Pickles had finished reuniting, Jameson stood up again, still bunching the blanket around his waist. “Thank you, Gray.”

  “I got my uncle to figure it out,” Gray explained. “There’s a package from Seb, too.”

  “From Seb?”

  Gray handed over a big manila envelope, stuffed full of something. Jameson let the blanket finally fall so that he could take it, then shook out the contents. There were a few credit cards, all with different names, as well as travel vouchers, money orders, and some cell phones, too.

  “All secure and totally untraceable. And if we ever need extra cover, we can just call Seb.”

  Jameson looked stunned, and it took him a minute to compose himself. “This is transformative,” he said. “This makes everything else possible.”

  Flush with pride, Gray nodded. “That’s the plan,” he said, taking Jameson back in his arms. “I figured, you took care of so much by coming out on the show tonight, it was really up to me to work out the rest.” He chuckled to himself, swaying Jameson back and forth. “Me and Uncle Declan and Seb, I mean.”

  Jameson purred, then gasped. “But it must have taken so long and cost so much money,” he said. “I have to repay Seb somehow!”

  “It’s okay,” Gray assured, stroking Jameson’s arm. “You’re part of the family. It’s what we do.”

  “I’m part of the family,” Jameson repeated, like he was tasting the words.

  “I don’t even care that Pickles is staring,” Jameson laughed. He threw his arms around Gray’s shoulders and took him in a deep kiss. They wiggled together, biting at each other’s lips.

  Gray pulled his lips away, certain that he was grinning like a cartoon wolf. Everything had fallen into place, and he felt a kind of confidence and security that was new to him. “What do you think? We’ll rent a car with one of Seb’s cards tomorrow and then take it from there?”

  “I should probably ask you to run into the MAC store for me before we leave the city. And of course we’ll have Dee to the hotel for breakfast before we take off.”

  Gray laughed, then swatted Jameson’s ass playfully. “Look at that,” he said. “Only the first day of freedom, and we’ve already got a busy schedule.”

  “Lots of family to keep up with,” Jameson teased. “And lots of new places to see. Now come on.” He took Gray’s hand, then started walking backward to the shower, grinning. “The night’s still young.”

  Epilogue

  Gray

  One year later…

  “How the hell did you end up in Scotland?” Dee asked. “It took me two planes and a six-hour ferry ride to get to this island!” She had several large bags and one cardboard box at her feet, and she looked a little frazzled from the days of travel.

  “It’s called Eilean Bharraigh,” Jameson explained, pronouncing the words slowly to get them right.

  “Just Barra works, too,” Gray added, grabbing Dee’s bags. “I can’t remember how we ended up here in the first place, though.”

  “I wanted to see a castle!” Jameson said brightly.

  They were standing at the port where Dee had been dropped off. A cool, early summer breeze was coming in off the ocean, and the smell of fish was in the air. Behind them, rocky hillsides caressed the beach, and in the distance, small secluded islands dotted the water.

  Gray and Jameson had arrived at the island a few months earlier, after a world tour that took them around New Zealand and through Thailand, as well as a long stopover at Hahajima Island in Japan. For the longest time, they weren’t looking for anything specific, just peace and quiet and plenty of time alone together. One evening, after drinking a little too much sake, they had decided Scottish castles were the next destination. Gray hadn’t expected to stick around the island long, but then they’d arrived at the cottage they were renting and realized that no one in the small village recognized Jameson, even without a scarf. Once the wildflowers started blooming, they had decided to stick around for an extended stay.

  “You hungry?” Gray asked. “Today’s catch is in, if you like fish.”

  Dee patted her stomach. She was wearing a casual purple jumpsuit, and her oversize necklace swung from side to side. “They filled me up on the ferry.”

  “To the cottage then!” Jameson said brightly. His cheeks shimmered, and his arched eyebrows perfectly complimented his soft white eyeshadow. “We can practice pronouncing the Scottish Gaelic words on all the road signs while we drive.”

  After enjoying luxury travel for the first few months, Gray and Jameson learned in Scotland that lowkey tourism was more their style. It took Gray a second to start up the old beater of a truck they’d purchased on the island, but once they started driving north on the rocky road to their cabin, he relaxed into the beautiful drive. Jameson and Dee excitedly shared stories, chatting over each other and pointing at the landscape while they passed.

  It felt good to have a visitor. Jameson had surprised Gray by flying Raiden, Horatio, Declan, and Seb out for a luxury winter weekend outside of Auckland, but since then, they’d largely been alone. They had made the occasional friend and gone on a few side adventures with locals who had no clue Jameson was an international superstar. But Jameson came alive with his old friend in a way that delighted Gray, and having Dee around brought him as much happiness as it brought his boyfriend.

  After a slow, winding drive, they arrived at the cabin, rented under one of the false names Seb had given them. It wasn’t fancy, just a small bungalow with a little hot tub out back. But built into the hillside and overlooking rocky cliffs and the crashing ocean down below, it also gave one of the most spectacular views he’d ever seen.

  “Holy shit,” Dee said, stepping out into the afternoon light. “This is fucking gorgeous, you guys!”

  Jameson squinted and pointed to a distant hillside. “The nearest neighbor is on the other side of that hill,” he said. “She’s eighty years old, and she’s never heard of Broken Dragon or West Town.”

  “Mrs. Ba
gby is our new best friend,” Gray added. “We play cards with her once a week.”

  “She beats Gray at poker,” Jameson laughed warmly. “Every time!”

  Gray helped carry the bags up to the cottage, and when they opened the door, Pickles came charging out. She barked excitedly at Gray and Dee, running circles around them for a minute before she finally collapsed at Jameson’s feet for some pets. Jameson ran around, showing off the cool old features in cottage and then throwing open the back door to let the cool, crisp air in from the beach. While Jameson did the tour, Gray cut up some cheese to serve with crackers and opened up a bottle of hard cider he had purchased in town the week before.

  The year travelling with Jameson had been a dream, and definitely some of the happiest days of his life. They’d gotten to know each other in new and deeper ways. Long evenings alone together meant that Gray and Jameson had learned each other’s stories intimately, and Gray could summon Jameson’s memories of small-town Kansas and glitzy Los Angeles television sets as easily as he could remember his own childhood. They had started to complete each other’s sentences and to cook together in the evening with perfect, unspoken coordination.

  Without that time alone, that time to explore, Gray imagined that it would have taken him years to learn as much as he had about Jameson. But with sea eagles swooping through the sky, Gray felt as secure in his relationship as he had ever felt about something in his life.

  Secure enough, in fact, to start planning the first trip home. And definitely, Gray was ready to see his family again.

  There was a lull in the conversation, and Jameson leaned forward, resting his hands on the small wooden table. “Did you bring it?” he asked Dee.

  Dee stuck her hands on her hips. “Oh yeah,” she said. “I brought it.”

  “The musical equipment?” Gray asked excitedly.

  Jameson and Dee exchanged a look, which he had trouble reading. More evenings than not, Jameson had sung him a few songs, serenading Gray with the voice of an angel while they took a bath together or walked by the sea in the evening.

  And he always gave Jameson a special treat afterward, too, just to show his appreciation. Gray had a strict rule with himself that he always tried to show Jameson just as much love as Jameson showed him.

  But Gray couldn’t play an instrument, and while he loved belting his head off like a madman and playing the air drums, he couldn’t really carry a proper tune, either. Dee, on the other hand, could give Jameson the kind of duet he really needed. And after a year on the road, with plenty of time to fool around with the little keyboard he had purchased in Tokyo, he had jotted down plenty of new songs.

  “Sure,” Dee said, still holding Jameson’s eye with that weird expression. “Should we play around with the equipment?”

  In a flash, they were setting up the equipment Dee had dragged from New York. The cottage wasn’t ideal for sound quality, what with its creaky old walls and thin windows, but when Gray hung up some of the old wool blankets and Dee fiddled to position the equipment properly, they were able to secure the sound they wanted.

  Jameson threw his arms around Gray’s shoulders, kissing him quickly. “I love you, handsome, but I got to say. I was beyond ready to see Dee.”

  Gray laughed. “Good. I take it you’re feeling ready for the trip back to Albany next month?”

  Jameson nodded, then pressed his cheek against Gray’s chest as he held him tight. “I am. I needed this full year away, I think. This year with you, so that I could figure myself out. But I’m ready. And anyway,” he sighed, “it’s time to check in with New Nightly, and I’m sure Justin Sweet’s coming out is going to receive a lot of attention.”

  “Duty calls,” Dee joked as she fiddled with the keyboard.

  Gray let his hand dangle down by Jameson’s butt, and he gave him a quick squeeze. He realized they were so used to being alone he had practically forgotten how to behave around other people.

  Jameson shrugged with a smile. “I’m not complaining. I’ve got everything I ever wanted. If I have to go act a couple of times a year, so be it. Maybe Justin Sweet can even do some more good in the world, now that he’s come out of the closet.”

  Dee pressed her hands down on the keyboard, and a strange noise hummed out. Gray could tell it wasn’t a standard chord, but somehow, the jarring noise was beautiful, too.

  “Beautiful Scotland,” Dee crooned, making up a lilting fake melody. “I ate too much fish on the ferry ride in Scotland!”

  Jameson laughed. “That will happen to you.” He adjusted his tiny keyboard, then switched to his singing voice. “At least a razorbill seabird didn’t try to steal your French fries,” he sang out beautifully.

  Everyone laughed, and Gray took a seat on the couch. Dee had brought some microphones and other recording equipment with her, and Gray played with the sound levels on Jameson’s laptop while the two singers warmed up.

  “We’ll start with some of the songs you wrote,” Dee said brightly. “I’ve been practicing with the music you sent along.”

  Jameson nodded. “Sounds great, thank you!” He ran his finger across the keyboard one more time, then turned to Gray. “Can we just do one Queen song first, to warm up with Gray?” Before Gray and Dee could say anything, Jameson broke out with a musical laugh. “I’m sentimental!” he joked.

  Dee and Gray both laughed along. Gray cranked down the volume on the laptop, then stood up with a nod. “Pick a song, beautiful. You know I’m here.”

  They started singing together, the raucous noise filling the tiny cottage and bouncing off the hills outside. The afternoon quickly turned into the early evening, and Gray hurried back and forth, playing with the recording equipment and then making snacks and drinks for everyone. Dee and Jameson would record a beautiful duet, and then five minutes later, the three of them would all be screaming nonsense and making each other laugh hysterically. It was chaotic and fun, and somehow, by the time it was dark out, they’d put a few solid recordings down on the computer, too.

  Tired from the travel, Dee put herself to bed first, leaving Gray and Jameson alone for a cup of tea on the back porch. Gray noticed the light in Jameson’s eyes. He was always bright, and there had been no lack of fun over the past year. But Gray knew there was nothing like having your best friend around, and as they listened to the sea, he tried to brainstorm ways to bring Dee with them on their travels, or at least make sure she came out more often.

  Tea turned into whiskey drinks, and soon enough, Gray and Jameson were undressing each other in their bedroom. They had propped open the tiny round windows above the bed, and they rubbed each other’s bodies to stay warm in the evening chill. Gray took his time, kissing Jameson’s hole to open him, then using a couple of fingers to stroke the spot on the back of Jameson’s neck that he found, coaxing out those whimpers that he loved so much. He lost himself in the wet, warm pleasure of Jameson’s mouth, then steadied Jameson from behind once they started fucking, his boyfriend taking his cock easily. Trying their best to stay quiet and not disturb Dee, Gray still let out an accidental growl when he came that shook the house, and Jameson had to bury his face in his pillow to hide his giggle.

  The next morning, Dee was already up when Gray and Jameson crawled out of bed. She’d put on some coffee, and when they wandered out in their robes, she heated up some muffins from the fridge, too, slathering them with butter. When they all sat down at the table together, Gray noticed a small folder, sitting there.

  “What’s that?” he asked, nodding down to it.

  Dee and Jameson shared a glance again, and Gray had to laugh to himself. He was used to being the one with all the secrets with Jameson, but now, he thought he might be getting a little of his own medicine.

  Jameson put his fingers on the envelope, then slid it across the table to Gray. “Take a look,” he said, then sipped his coffee. “I had Dee and Seb start putting this together a few months ago.”

  Gray scrunched his eyebrows, confused, then opened the envelope. He sli
d the papers out onto the table, and when he started to fan through them, he saw photograph after photograph of gorgeous homes, all surrounded by familiar, wooded landscapes.

  “Houses,” Jameson said. “All within a fifty-mile radius of Albany.”

  Dee pushed aside a few of the papers, gesturing. “There’s aerial photos, too,” she explained. “You can see how big the properties are and how much distance is between you and the neighbors.”

  “And Seb has already run research on those neighbors,” Jameson added, excitement making his voice jump up. “Anyone with serious problems, he already excluded the property. For the ones that are left, he added profiles at the end, so we don’t end up living next to someone who is going to give us problems.”

  Gray blinked, then blinked again. “Albany?” he said. He wanted to ask so much more, but he couldn’t get past that one thought.

  “It might not last forever,” Jameson explained. “Someone might figure us out eventually. But that’s okay! With all of our skills and everyone working together, I really do think we can make it work and build a home there.”

  “And there’s some really cool houses,” Dee added. “We can visit them when you’re in the States next month, if you have any favorites.”

  Suddenly, Gray felt dizzy. The yellow morning light cut through the windows, and Pickles was lying at his feet, keeping them warm. It was a normal morning, like he’d gotten used to on the little island, but seismically, everything had just shifted, too.

  “I didn’t think you’d want to move back yet,” Gray said. “I thought you wanted to travel more.”

  Jameson took his hand. He smiled across the table, his eyes wide and sparkling. “We can still travel, if we want. But I’m not just doing this for you, Gray. I’m doing it for me, too. You welcomed me into your family, and that means more to me than any island adventure or cruise vacation. We don’t need to keep searching when we’ve already found what we’re looking for.”